Last Friday we found out that four young Newcastle United stars had been included in the England Under 18s squad.
The squad competing in the UEFA Friendship Cup in Switzerland during the September and October international window.
The England Under 18s with an initial three group games and a fourth match to decide final placements.
The eight-team tournament is being hosted by UEFA at their base in Nyon.
The England Under 18s will face Egypt at 2pm on Sunday 27 September, then a match against Korea Republic at 10am on Wednesday 30 September, which will be followed by a fourth game on 3 October, with the opponent and kick-off time to be confirmed following the conclusion of the third game.
First of all though, the England Under 18s played on Thursday against Colombia in a match which proved to be a five goal thriller.
Three rising young United stars were included in the starting eleven.
It was only to take 12 minutes for two of the young Newcastle talents to combine for the opening goal.
Michael Mills is an 17-year-old winger who NUFC picked up from Port Vale at the age of 14, he netted the opening goal against Colombia and getting the assist was Kyran Thompson. The exciting attacking player (pictured below) turned 17 this month and turned down a contract at Arsenal to move to United.
However, the England Under 18s were only in the lead with that goal, due to Newcastle United’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Roman Dowell making some excellent early saves to prevent Colombia going in front.
England then came close on a number of occasions to doubling the lead, including hitting the woodwork, before Colombia finally found a way past Dowell on 31 minutes with Caicedo equalising.
Just before the break though, Jashayde Greenwood restored England’s lead.
Newcastle’s Michael Mills looked to have scored a third for England a few minutes into the second half, only for a very good save from the opposition keeper to prevent England taking full control.
They didn’t have to wait long though for that 3-1 lead, on 54 minutes Greenwood with a superb run and finish for his second goal.
Exciting 17-year-old midfielder Sam Alabi then arrived from the bench on 64 minutes as one of three subs and he instantly impressed.
With 15 minutes to go though in a very entertaining match, Colombia pulled it back to 3-2 with Agámez giving Roman Dowell no chance.
As Colombia pressed for the equaliser it looked like they had got it in the 88th minute, only for an outstanding save from the England and Newcastle United keeper to prevent Echeverria scoring what looked a certain leveller for 3-3.
A very good opening match of the tournament and impressive to see the Newcastle United quartet playing such a big part in the eventual 3-2 victory.
England: 1 Roman Dowell (Newcastle United), 2 Oscar Sandiford (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Calvin Diakite (Chelsea), 4 Freddie Lawrie (Manchester City), 5 Marlow Barrett (Manchester City), 6 Tyrese Noubissie (RC Strasbourg), 8 Max Little (Southampton), 9 Jashayde Greenwood (Chelsea), 10 Erik Farkas (Liverpool), 11 Kyran Thompson (Newcastle United), 14 Michael Mills (Newcastle United).
Substitutes: 12 Jake Wain (Manchester City) for Diakite 64’, 15 Hugo De Lisle (Leicester City) for Little 64’, 20 Sam Alabi (Newcastle United) for Noubissie 64’, 19 Phoenix Offiah (Tottenham Hotspur) for Greenwood 76’, 17 Ajay Tavares (FC Barcelona) for Mills 76’, 18 Samuel Alker (Leeds United) for Farkas 76’, 21 Reon Smith (West Ham United) for Lawrie 86’.
Some great work going on in the younger age levels at Newcastle United, time and resources put into recruiting the best young talent locally and across the UK, as well as from overseas.
There are some great young players with real first team potential for the future and the England Under 18s also the beneficiaries now.